Insights

Port Challenges in West Africa

September 10, 2013.
Logistics Publications

At first glance, the many ocean ports dotting the Western and Central African coastline may suggest a robust economy and well developed transportation network. As many shippers to this region know, quantity does not mean quality in this case. Selecting the best gateway to import your goods into...

The Importance of Logistics Data

September 02, 2013.
Logistics Publications

Logistics data is a very important source of information used for evaluating all major Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It may also play significant role in assessing the commercial aspects of the logistics. A significant competitive advantage can be gained by maintaining a consistent data set as it will show, over...

New Taxes in Hungary & France Impact Transportation Costs

July 02, 2013.
Logistics Publications

On 01 July 2013, Hungary implemented a road tax, a mandatory toll payment for all vehicles with a maximum total permissible weight over 3.5 tons. The payment is determined by the type of road (highway, motorway, etc.), category of motor vehicle (determined by number of axles) and the vehicle’s environmental classification...

Hours of Service: Comply or Else….

July 02, 2013.
Logistics Publications

July 1st 2013 is the date when truck drivers and carriers must comply with new hours-of-service rules. The final rule requires that if more than 8 consecutive hours on-duty have passed since the last off-duty or sleeper-berth period (of at least 30 minutes), a driver must take another off-duty or...

What Are Logistics KPIs Good For?

June 18, 2013.
Logistics Publications

Are there tangible benefits of having Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for logistics? Definitely! The primary purpose of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is to provide a metric of how well a process is working. Using KPIs, you should be able to get a picture of your current situation; i...

Liquidated Damages for ISF Non-Compliance

June 18, 2013.
Trade Publications

Introduction: While ISF regulations have been in place since January of 2009, and the enforcement period began in January of 2010, Customs and Border Protection has been pretty lenient when it comes to issuances of liquidated damages. CBP has been using a “measured and commonsense approach”1 and...

How to act and prevent the situation when full set original Bill of Lading have been lost for an ocean shipment

June 06, 2013.
Logistics Publications

“Oh my gosh, the originals ocean Bill of Lading are lost for a critical shipment for our final customer. The container is blocked at the port and the storage fees are accumulating every day as well as the dissatisfaction of our customer! Help us!” Such an unpleasant situation...

Ask Your Logistics Experts… What documents do I need to export cargo from the United States?

June 04, 2013.
Logistics Publications

Q: What documents do I need to export cargo from the United States? A: All exports from the United States require the support of some kind of documentation. The three factors in determining what documentation is needed are: the type of goods being exported, the destination, and the mode of...

Ozone Depleting Chemicals: What an Electronics Importer Should Know

May 15, 2013.
Trade Publications

Some importers of electronics may be unaware of all of their tax liabilities. While the importer may be fully aware of what duties and taxes are normally due upon importation of goods, many don’t know of the additional excise taxes that are placed on imported electronic goods,...

California BOE to Visit Retailers

March 29, 2013.
Tax Publications

If you are a retailer in California, you may be getting a visit from the California Board of Equalization SCOP (Statewide Compliance and Outreach Program) teams. In a recent news release, the BOE stated that some 9,688 business owners in select zip codes will be affected. The purpose of the...

Common Classification Mistakes

March 24, 2013.
Trade Publications

It is essential that importers exercise and demonstrate reasonable care when assigning HTS classification to parts that are being imported. Misclassifying parts can lead to increased duties and penalties. Listed below are some common mistakes all importers should avoid when it comes to classifying parts for importation. Relying...

Basics in Managing your LTL Freight Spending

March 19, 2013.
Logistics Publications

As less than truck load (LTL) volumes stabilize, LTL carriers continue to look at areas to increase margins. One of these areas is ensuring shippers pay for the services they receive. Below are four essential elements you can use to improve control over your LTL transport spending: •...